Leadership keeps staff as much as leads staff

1. Leadership is about inspiring staff in growth times. Growth times are tuff. 2. Lead your time forward by walking with them not just pushing them 3. Do life w/ your team not just over your team 4. Listen to your staff don't just tell your staff 5. Don't dream alone. Dream Together. 6. Everyone has a voice. Let them speak 7. Speak believe into your team. 8. Grow with your team; don't just expect them to grow. if you don't grow w/ them they will pass you and you will work for them one day. 9. Have fun w/ your team 10. Support your team in what they are doing; don't just expect them to support you in what you are doing. 11. Support your teams’ families don't just expect them to support your family.

Chose Joy in your work.

Col 2:23 Work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord and not merely for your masters, Chose to work hard@! When joy as at the front of your work the work is way more enjoyable and you develop a healthy spirit becasue of it.  Don't let the wait of pressure or the world get the best of you.  Chose Joy in your work.  Work and live will always provided pressure.  What you do with it determine the wait you carry because of it.  Chose joy in it and you will enjoy it more.  Then as a result you can work hard at it.  Be hard workers at all you do.  It is a character trait the few have and the few are the greatest leaders.  The best are not typically the most talented they are those that work that stay focused and work the hardest!!  Be the best you; that you can be today by living according to the promises of God with a joy that draws others in. 

Let your faith lead your life not the fear of today become the leader of your tomorrow.

Luke 8:37 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. Fear pushes Jesus away every time.  Instead of letting our faith lead us through moments of fear we let our lack of believe be in the driver seat of our faith.  Moments of fear lead to an example of faithlessness.  We fear what others think; so we don't stand on what is right; we fear what someone might say about us; so we follow the crowd instead of Jesus.  We come face to face with our insecurities, longing form the crowd to like us; so we compromise our faith.  The crazy part is "he got into the boat and left."  Jesus does not remain where he is not welcome.  Don't expect Jesus to walk through the valley with you if you're not willingly to walk through the valley for Him.  Jesus left.  When we display a lack of faith we are asking Jesus to leave.  Let your faith lead your life not the fear of today become the leader of your tomorrow.  Stick with your faith in Jesus.

There is nothing better standing at the wedding Alter with your purity!

Song of Solomon 8:4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love  until it so desires. A passage talking about your purity and how to honor the Lord in it.  Set standards today to not awaken love.  Not through Porn, Not through a dating relationship, not through a moment that got the best of you.  As you have relationships honor God in this and letting your purity be a priority!!  Boundaries are key to keep you from falling into a sinful moment.  Lust can win so fast if you don't protect your purity and protect your thought life!!  There is nothing better standing at the wedding Alter with your purity!!!  That is the message of Solomon in Song of Solomon 8:4.  Honor your future spouse today by how you date today, what you look at today, what you give into today!!  Fight for your purity!!!

Friday was for YOU!!!

Wait on the Lord.  Today , over 2000 years ago, was a day of waiting.  Waiting to see what would happen with Jesus.  Would he conqure death, would he come out of the grave, how would he come out, what will it look like, will it happen?  Today, in the Jewish culture, was the day of Sabbath so no work was allowed to happen on this day.  Just a day of rest!  Rest and wait!  Those 2 words don't seem to go together.  Yet, sometimes the Lord brings us to a place were  we must have great faith He will come through so we can rest in our faith but we still must wait on Him!  Today rest knowing (Ex 14:14 ) "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  While resting remember: Friday was for you To the rebellious, Friday was for you! To the broken hearted, Friday was for you! To those full of worry, Friday was for you!  To those who reject Christ, Friday was for you!  To those who call yourselvs athiest, Friday was for you! To those living in deep sin and sorrow, Friday was for you!  To those who have surrendered your lives to Christ, Friday was for you! I could keep going just remmeber Friday was for you!  So as you wait and rest remember what Jesus did was for you so that you could have eternal life with Him!!  He proofed Friday was for you on Sunday!! I Cor 15:55-57 “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Home for the Holidays Series (The Garage) - Cross Church Psalm 51

11/26/2017 -"The Garage" from Cross Church on Vimeo.

Scar Series - Brian Mills @C3CrossChurch Cross Church College Ministry

"Scars" Part 1 from Cross Church on Vimeo.

"Scars" Part 2 from Cross Church on Vimeo.

"Scars" Part 3 - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 from Cross Church on Vimeo.

"Scars" Part 4 - Genesis 37:7 from Cross Church on Vimeo.

"Scars" Part 5 - 1 Chronicles 14:17 from Cross Church on Vimeo.

A Disciple - Brian Mills @C3CrossChurch Cross Church College Ministry

"A Disciple" from Cross Church on Vimeo.

"A Disciple" from Cross Church on Vimeo.

Changed People Change People - Brian Mills @C3CrossChurch Cross Church College Ministry

"Changed People Change People" from Cross Church on Vimeo.

Power of Your Testimony - Brian Mills @c3crosschurch Cross Church College Ministry

The Power of your Testimony - C3 from Cross Church on Vimeo.

101 lessons I have learned over the years in Youth Ministry

Over the years I have had the chance to work in some of the top churches in America and for some of the greatest leaders in the country.  As a result I have learned so much over the years.  

I took the time to write down 100 quick thoughts I have learned over the years as a youth pastor.  I still have so far to go and so much to learn but am grateful for what God has taught me this far.  Can't wait to see all I get the chance to learn in the future.  

I could probably list over 500 lessons and counting but here is 101 lessons i have learned over the years in youth ministry.  

1. A Call to Ministry is a must:  There are days you will want to quit that you will need to reflect back on your call
2.  Relationships with your church are a must
3.  Relationships with your youth workers are a must
4.   Relationships with your community takes work but is the key. 
5.  Your Youth Workers are your most valuable resource
6.  Celebrate the wins with your team. 
7.  Share the gospel often
8.  A gospel centered event without effective follow up will never lead to disciples. 
9.  Loyalty is a must.
10.   Delegations without Definitions equals Disaster. 
11.   Leadership is a must. 
12.  Be clear in your vision.
13.  Bring the people along with you.  If you get too far ahead you will committee ministry suicide. 
14.  Don’t ask ask ask.  
15.  Don’t use all your “relationships coinage” all at once.
16.  Your family must be put before your ministry.
17.  School activities are a must to attend. 
18.  Preach out of God’s word and not just whatever is the most popular topic. 
19.  Never do an event without sharing the gospel 
20.  Discipline the students is a must. 
21.  Put your students around mature adults not just college students.  Teenagers need more adults in their lives. 
22.  Teenagers do not need more friends they need more leaders in their lives. 
23.  Communicate Communicate Communicate
24.  Don’t make it “Your” ministry.  Allow your family to do life with you in ministry. 
25.  Pride will kill your ministry. 
26.  The stage is not to make you famous but to make God famous. 
27.  Never overlook any student.  You never know if they are the one that God wants to use to start a movement in your community. 
28.  Never Assume. 
29.   Don’t be afraid to confront students or leaders.  Be humble but speak up. 
30.  Humble confidence is needed in your leadership.
31.  Ministry is always happening.  Sometimes “it” can wait until tomorrow. 
32.  There is nothing wrong sending someone to voice mail and calling them back the next day.  Just remember to call them back. 
33.  Hand written notes go a long way. 
34.  Be sure your students and volunteers understand the WHY so that they will do the HOW. 
35.  What good is a video if noone is coming to watch it.  Point: don’t spend all the time being creative and not building relationships. 
36.   Excellence is the only option. 
37.  Stay Simple.  The more complex you get the less impact you will have. 
38.  Stay Connected.  Don’t be a “green room” youth pastor.
39.  Share the stories often. 
40.  Pray for your pastor daily.
41.  Stay in line with the vision of the church. 
42.  Baptize weekly
43.  Know when to speak up and when to shut up. 
44.  Followship is just important as Leadership.  Know when to Lead and when to Follow. 
45.  Raise the bar with your youth workers and students. 
46.  Use Social Media often to share the story. 
47.  Be Self Motivated
48.  Stay away from Negativity.  Does not good! 
49.  Smile a lot,
50.  be quick to listen,
51.  say thanks often,
52.  find opportunities to hang with other staff members.
53.  Attend Church Weekly. 
54.  Never say “I can’t.”  There is always a way. 
55.  Don’t overcomplicate the gospel. 
56.  Equip the Saints to do the work of the ministry.
57.  Spend time w/ God daily and do it in the morning. 
58.  Reflect yearly
59.  Be Creative in your programming. 
60.  Don’t procrastinate. 
61.  Read books monthly
62.  Pray Pray Pray
63.  A Building does not keep people relationships do
64.  A big budget does not mean big success. 
65.  Never let discouragement set in
66.  Keep your integrity and Character high
67.  Don’t add to your numbers to impress others.  Just post what you actually had and rejoice in what God did. 
68.  Work Hard!!!
69.  To be an A leader hang out with other A leaders
70.  Know the “seasons” of ministry and prepare your family for them. 
71.  “People and rubber bands have one thing in common: they must be stretched to be effective." John Maxwell
72.  Whenever you encounter a hill, keep pushing & hoping. There's probably a downhill on the other side
73.   Never wait for a "storm" to hit. Always be ahead of the storm.
74.  Ask the question: What are we doing in our life today that if God removed his hand we could still do? What are you trust the spirit of God for?
75.  Never Over Promise and Under Deliver
76.  Never say anything behind someone’s back that you don’t have the guts to say to that persons face. IT will get back to them. You might not care if it does but either way it is ungodly!!!
77.  Go where God calls you no matter what everyone else says!!! Don’t allow others to write your story only God!!!
78.  Don’t be lazy Excute!!!
79.  Discipline = work. In sports/family/work/marriage it takes discipline. Discipline is not always easy or fun but is always necessary.
80.  Tradition is not always Bad
81.  Attending healthy conferences keeps you fresh.
82.  You never know who you are talking too!!!
83.  Give hilariously with your money always!!! Look at a man’s pocketbook and you will find his true love!
84.  Bigger is not always better
85.  Call people Back, Return emails, respond on facebook and twitter
86.  Time Management saves you hours in a day!!!
87.  Fail Fwd always. When you fail, not if, always learn and grow from your mistakes.
88.  You can’t score unless you shoot
89.  Always be honest even when it is hard.
90.  Own up to your mistakes
91.  You are one mistake away from a carrier ending decision.
92.   Never Overreact Stay Calm, take time to think about it then make a decision.
93.  Don’t talk too much people will lose respect for you. Be wise in what comes out of your mouth. Prov 18:21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
94.  Don’t burn bridges. Disrespect and dishonor will burn bridges. Stand up for what you believe but don’t take on battles that are disrespectful.
95.  Loyalty is not something that you should have to demand it should just be given.
96.  Always be ready you never know when something unexpected is going to happen
97.  Don’t let Orbital Decay happen. – When a rocket ship takes off it has amazing power. Once in space though it shuts off is busters and could get into orbital decay. It will then remain stagnate. The only way out of orbital decay is to hit the rocket busters again. This is also known as the S Curve Principal. Is your family, ministry or life in orbital decay?
98.  Cease every opportunity
99.   Keep your attitude in Check.
100.  Try something new, even if it is “not you.”
101. Love your spouse!!!  Never give up on each other.  God put you together. 

FOR PAST POST ON LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED:  GO HERE 

Why should you buy Checkpoints - A Tactical Guide to Manhood

As my friend Jay Strack, founder of Student Leadership University, says "It is time for the little boy to sit down and the man to stand up."

Checkpoints is designed to help boys tackle the big spiritual issues that they are facing and answer the hard questions at the end of each week.  Boys need to grow up today in many ways but a huge way is they need to own up to their own spiritual growth and stop relying on their parents or pastors spiritual growth.  Checkpoints will help with this.

Check it out today!!!  Buy on Amazon, Navpress, Barnes & Nobles or any book store.

McKenna goes to see "HO HO"

My daughters is now obsessed with Santa. She calls him Ho Ho. We took her the other day to the mall to set in his lap. She did not cry or anything.. She set down and told him what he was bringing her for Christmas.

She has also learned now that the manger scenes are Jesus. Not that she knows what it means but she knows the image…

As McKenna left the mall she was shouting down the hallway “BYE HO HO.”

Is it not the simple things in life that make life so great. I love investing in my kids and hanging out with them.

I never want to miss those moments…